Honolulu Chiropractor

Have you heard that chiropractors treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Well, that’s not completely correct. Chiropractors don’t “treat” ADHD. But, chiropractic care can certainly help children, and adults too, who suffer from it. The reason that chiropractic treatment is effectual is that ADHD is a neurological disorder. Chiropractic manipulations not only help to reduce nervous system disruptions in general, but an adjustment can be specifically directed to stimulate under-active areas of the brain and calm over-active areas as well. Due to the fact that a chiropractic approach to ADHD is natural and drug-free, many parents choose chiropractic care over the common medical approach of giving children Class 2 psychotropic drugs that have dramatically negative side effects including personality changes and permanent alterations in the brain. Nearly all of parents who’ve opted for chiropractic treatment for their children have observed stunning behavioral changes as a result.

Because of the differences between the ways in which boys and girls employ the two hemispheres of their brain, ADHD appears to afflict more boys than girls and, additionally, is often more obvious and easily discernible in the behavior of boys as opposed to of girls. Prominent symptoms include a hard time concentrating and sitting still, lack of ability to control impulsive thoughts and behaviors, easily distracted by noises and activities, constant movement of fingers, hands, arms, feet, or legs.

A large number of children who manifest ADHD symptoms are hypersensitive to certain foods, such as dairy or gluten products, and sugars and artificial sweeteners. In addition, they generally have a hypersensitive reaction to additives in foods, herbicides and pesticides used to grow non-organic fruits and vegetables, and laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, and other chemicals. Often, the elimination of these environmental agencies can go a long way in easing ADHD symptoms.

Your Honolulu Chiropractor will give your child a complete chiropractic examination, checking for spinal anomalies and analyzing certain responses to specific neurological tests.

Natural, safe chiropractic treatment can help your child to get his or her life back in balance. Before taking drastic pharmaceutical measures, if your child displays the symptoms of ADHD, call your chiropractor to make an appointment for a complete evaluation. Call today for the health of your child!

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, chiropractic, chiropractor, drug-free, natural

Are you ready for this? For years (and years) chiropractors like me, plus nutritionists and other health-conscious professionals have been advising men, women, and children to lay off the fast foods. Everyone is aware already of the artery-clogging, fat-producing effects of a fast food diet. So, tell you something you don’t know, right? Well, here it is: It’s not just the fast food, itself, that can shorten your life span, but the wrapper it comes in that is a risk to your health and longevity, as well!

Add to the growing list of chemicals showing up in human blood, chemicals called diPAPs. They’re found in the compounds that make food wrappers grease-proof. These chemicals are fairly new and scientists don’t know yet if they are harmful to human health. But diPAPs break down into another worrisome chemical, called PFOA (perfuorooctanoic acid), which is in a class of compounds called perflurochemicals, and may be carcinogenic.

PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate, another perflurochemical) are resistant to oil and water, which makes them perfect for use as fast food wrappers, and as liners on nonstick pans, microwave popcorn bags, and pizza boxes, not to mention carpets clothes, and electronics among many other applications. The problem is that these compounds end up in the environment, our food and our bodies.

“The take-home message is that some chemicals that make our lives easier, better and more satisfying end up in our bloodstream with unknown toxicological consequences,” said Scott Mabury, a chemist at the University of Toronto. “We should be smart enough to design chemicals that do what we want them to do without causing a chemical pollution problem.” Imagine that — designing chemicals that wouldn’t harm our bodies or pollute the environment. I wonder why no one has thought about that until now?

For the complete article, go tohttp://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/15/food-wrapper-chemical.html?campaign=w01-101-ae-0001

Technorati Tags: diet, fast food, health, pollution

If you drive a big car and you’re in an accident if your car looks “uninjured,” it’s easy to assume that you are not hurt, either. After all, isn’t that why you’re driving a big vehicle? It’s for safety, right? Well, research has proved that occupants of vehicles, both large and compact, can be injured a lot more than might be predicted from a minor auto accident. In fact, as far as your body is concerned, there’s truly no such thing as a “minor fender bender.”

Let’s face it. There are going to be consequences when your body is compelled to stop suddenly and unexpectedly. An emergency room attendant may offer you a clean bill of health because you haven’t broken any bones, and you might be given a prescription for drugs to reduce the muscle spasms that you are undoubtedly experiencing due to the structural changes in your neck or lower back that you encountered from the impact. But, unless you’re actually treated for the bodily trauma you’ve sustained, your problem can go from bad to far worse. In fact, quite a few people encounter problems years after an auto accident because they didn’t get the help they needed in the first place.

Your Honolulu Chiropractor truly knows what your body goes through during a car accident. chiropractic techniques include treatment for soft tissue injuries and spinal bio-mechanics abnormalities. And

If you’ve experienced a minor auto accident, although your car may not require much repair, you probably do. Neck and back injuries are not only painful in the areas in which they take place, but they can also cause pain, tingling, and numbness in your arms and hands and result in headaches days, weeks, even months after an accident occurs.

You can get back on the road to feeling good again with drug-free, natural chiropractic care.  It will help to put the trauma of your accident where it belongs – behind you. Furthermore, because your chiropractor has experience working with insurance companies and lawyers, not only will you experience less physical stress, but less emotional stress, too!

Technorati Tags: auto accident, back injuries, car accident, chiropractic, chiropractor, headaches, lower back, neck, soft tissue injuries

Hello, your Honolulu Chiropractor here. I just read a great article about yoga for plus-size people. What a wonderful concept. I tell all my patients that “health begins right where you are today. You can’t wait for more time or less body weight.” However, up until now, yoga studios have not usually been purlieus for people of size. Striking a yoga pose has seemed to be an exclusive option for lithe, limber bodies. But, not anymore! Yoga classes for heavier people have been sprouting up all over the country with names like Buddha Body Yoga, MegaYoga, HeavyWeight Yoga, and Yoga for Round Bodies.

The ancient practice of yoga might be based on a philosophy of self-acceptance and non-competitiveness, but plus-size people usually feel too self-conscious to even try a yoga pose, much less try on a yoga philosophy. In addition, most yoga classes, even beginner courses, don’t address the needs of big bodies, says Michael Hayes, the owner of Buddha Body Yoga in New York. Poses considered standard for those who are fit or slim are often difficult or even impossible for heavier students.

So, if your body weight has been holding you back, and if you’ve been waiting for just the right moment to start getting healthy and fit, it looks like that moment has arrived. Check to see if there’s a yoga class for plus-size people in town. If not, maybe you can start one!

For the complete article go to http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/health/nutrition/14fitness.html?_r=1&em

Technorati Tags: excess weight, plus-size, yoga

Hi, your Honolulu Chiropractor here. I just read a great article in the New York Times about foot pain. Did you know that a huge number of people develop foot pain in their 60s? If you have foot pain and you’re 60 or over, you may already be painfully aware of this fact. But, the problem can actually start as early as the 20s and 30s.

Age related factors such as diabetes and circulation problems can contribute to foot pain. But, excessive weight, improper footwear, and a sedentary lifestyle can also be contributing factors, as well, and at any age. Obviously, proper footwear and regular exercise, then, can play a crucial role in preventing foot problems.

Amazingly, the average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in a lifetime. So, it’s not surprising that in a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it hampered their daily function.

Being farthest from the heart, the feet can often be the first part of the body to manifest complications like poor circulation and loss of feeling, both of which can lead to poor wound healing and amputation. In addition, the most common foot conditions that occur with age are arthritic joints, thinning of the fat pads cushioning the soles, plantar fascitis (inflammation of the fibrous tissue along the sole), bunions (enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe), poor circulation and fungal nails.

Excess weight simply adds to these problems. The force on your feet is about 120 percent of your weight. “obesity puts a great amount of stress on all the supporting structures of the foot,” said Dr. Bart Gastwirth, a podiatrist at the University of Chicago.

“A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it, and function and walk with pain,” said Dr. Andrew Shapiro, a podiatrist in Valley Stream, N.Y. Though some foot problems are inevitable, their progress can be slowed. If you’d liked slow the progress down, here are a few questions and conditions that are important for you to address: 1) Do you have poor circulation? 2) Do your parents complain about their feet? 3) Do you have flat feet or high arches? Either puts feet at risk. 4) If you can bend back your thumb to touch your lower arm, the ligaments in your feet are probably stretchy, too, Dr. Gastwirth said. 5) Do your shoes fit? In the podiatric association’s survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. 6) Do you wear high heels? “The high heel concentrates the force on the heel and the forefoot,” Dr. Gastwirth said. 7) Do your feet ever see the light of day? 8 ) Have you seen a podiatrist?

Believe it not, however, putting more mileage on your feet is the best way to exercise the muscles and keep them healthy. So, it’s important to lighten up, weight-wise, and wear shoes that are supportive and fit properly. And, if you’re experiencing foot pain, visit an experienced health care professional and find out why…before you walk too many more miles.

To view the original article, go to http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-footpain-ess.html
 

Technorati Tags: excess weight, foot pain, obesity, podiatrist, poor circulation

If you’re feeling low back pain, you’re not the only one. Low back pain afflicts many people, a surprising 80% in fact, making it second only to the common cold in its frequency. Although, in contrast to the common cold, waiting for your back pain to “run its course,” and taking prescription or over-the-counter remedies while you wait, is not the solution. Usually most back pain won’t go away by itself. More often than not, if your pain lets up, it is routinely the result of your body’s compensating for the problem, and unfortunately creating new challenges. Low back pain is nothing to sneeze at! It is necessary for you to consult a back pain expert, like your chiropractor, if you’d like to defeat your back pain permanently!

Back pain is frequently a mystery to many of the people who are afflicted by it, and chiropractors are experts at solving that mystery. They want to know why it is that they have not experienced any trauma, accidents, or major injuries before the onset of their pain? The answer is that the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, improper lifting, lack of routine exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related influences cause most back pain. These factors add up over time and produce stresses and imbalances on the spine producing subluxations that can become serious back conditions. The process is similar to the front end of your car being out of alignment. As you decide to drive, there is irregular wear and tear on your tires. If you ignore the problem, the situation could worsen until a tire “blows.” The function of the spine is jeopardized when your spine is misaligned. In other words, it’s not only a problem waiting to happen, it’s a problem waiting to get worse. And then, something as simple as reaching down to pick up a piece of paper can be the “final factor” that produces back injury. When this takes place, the surrounding back muscles go into spasm to protect the stressed or injured tissues of the back.

When it comes to problems of the spine, chiropractors have more education, training, and experience than medical doctors. They provide expert diagnosis and competent treatment for all muscular-skeletal problems. In addition to giving welcomed relief to those suffering from back pain, but they know what will assist you in avoiding further back pain. In addition to effectual adjustments and other productive chiropractic therapies, your chiropractor will offer to you a personal exercise strategy and recommend other beneficial lifestyle changes that will keep you well-adjusted and pain-free in the future.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, low back pain

When the body is looked at from behind, a normal spine is straight without much alteration from one side to the other.Scoliosis is an affliction that is generally associated with a lateral, or side-to-side, curvature of the spine.This affliction frequently gives the appearance of the patient leaning to one side though it should not be confused with poor posture. Characterized by both lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebra, this puzzling deformity oftentimes causes a symptomatic “rib hump” in the mid or thoracic spine. This is produced by the vertebrae in the zone of the major curve rotating toward the concavity and pushing their connected ribs posterior thus producing the characteristic rib hump seen in thoracic scoliosis. The pulmonary and cardiac functions can be obstructed if the thoracic curve and rib rotation is more than 70 degrees. Oftentimes later in life in untreated severe idiopathic infantile and juvenile scoliosis patients, this intensity of curve and consequential cardiac and pulmonary changes can be life threatening.

Anatomy

The spine displays four normal curves: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral, all of which are observable from a side view of the trunk. In the lower spine there is a healthy “C-shaped” curve called swayback or lordosis, while the thoracic curve in the chest vicinity has a “reverse C” called a kyphosis. Hyperlordosis is the term used to describe increased swayback, while increased kyphosis in the thoracic spine is called hyperkyphosis. Diversions from normal that are visible from a side view regularly accompany scoliosis changes. Occasionally round back deformities are simply due to poor posture and can often be corrected with postural exercises. A small number of individuals with kyphosis have more rigid deformities than the postural type, which are coincidental with vertebral deformity. This type of deformity, called Scheuermann’s kyphosis, is much more difficult to treat than postural kyphosis, and it’s cause is unknown.

Almost anyone can help to identify a child or grownup with scoliosis merely by looking at the person in a standing position, preferably without a shirt and in boxers, and observing the following:

• One shoulder may be raised than the other.

• One scapula (shoulder blade) may be raised or more pronounced than the other.

• There may be more room between the arm and the body on one side when the arms hang freely at the side.

• One hip may look to be higher or more prominent than the other.

• The head is not aligned with the pelvis.

• One side of the back appears higher than the other when the individual is observed from the rear and asked to bend forward until the the spine is horizontal.

The child or adult should be sent to a healthcare professional, such as a chiropractor, for further assessment once scoliosis is detected. your chiropractor would be happy to help.

The most common type of scoliosis is, by far, Idiopathic, and though there are a variety of causes and many kinds, Idiopathic Scoliosis accounts for nearly 85% of all cases. “Idiopathic” means “no known cause” and is observed with equal frequency in boys and girls in the mild or low curve magnitudes. Depending on the age of onset, this disorder can be sub-classified into infantile, juvenile and adolescent types. Idiopathic Scoliosis frequently runs in families and may be caused by genetic or hereditary influences. For reasons yet to be found, girls are five to eight times more likely than boys to have their curves develop in size and require treatment. As the term “Idiopathic Scoliosis” infers, this kind of scoliosis usually develops when children are ending their last major growth spurt. It is smart to have this age group observed by a professional on a regular basis because young people are hesitant to allow their body to be seen by parents or other adults.

It is vital that if a scoliotic curve is found in a growing adolescent, the curves be monitored for any development by a periodic examination and on occasion standing x-rays. In ninety percent of cases, the scoliosis is mild and does not require active treatment, though| increases in spinal deformity necessitate evaluation to determine if a brace or other therapy is necessary. In a small number of patients, surgical treatment may be required.~Surgery may be necessary for a small number of people.

Brace therapy (orthosis) is recommended for newly-identified conditions of moderate scoliosis or abnormal kyphosis, as well as when an increase in scoliosis or kyphosis is discovered in both juvenile and adolescent children. There are many kinds of braces, all designed to prevent curves from increasing by acting as a buttress for the spine during active skeletal growth. Braces normally will not make the spine entirely straight, and cannot always keep a curve from increasing. But, bracing is successful in preventing curve progression in a very large number of skeletally-immature adolescents.

There is no simple answer for scoliosis. The majority of cases, even though often monitored, are not actively treated. Severe cases are infrequently treated surgically, but the standard medical treatment for moderate conditions is a brace. You may want to see your local chiropractor first.

Specialized exercise, electric stimulation of spinal muscles, nutritional programs, and chiropractic treatments are among many therapies offered along with bracing. It looks as if the most beneficial results have been supported with a multi-faceted approach to the treatment of this affliction.

There are chiropractors, that have excellent success treating scoliosis symptoms.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractor, scoliosis